What do the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs do before the rest of us hit snooze? How did they turn scrappy ideas into thriving empires—and what role did their mornings play in that journey?
Join Candice, founder of Ms Morning, as she sits down with visionary founders to dissect the rituals, habits, and mindset shifts that fuel their success. Whether you’re a startup founder, side-hustler, or just curious about the secrets behind success, Founders Before 9 AM is your backstage pass to the quiet hours that build loud legacies.
Subscribe now and start your day with the founders.
Episode 3: India Hindmarsh -- The Business Behind the Pilates
India Hindmarsh turned a love of movement into one of Sydney's most loved Pilates brands — built on a simple idea: luxury, whilst getting sweaty.
As founder and head trainer of Core Culture Pilates, India built more than a workout. She built a community, a philosophy, and a brand that lives in people's bodies, not just their feeds.
In this episode, she shares the gap she saw in the market before anyone else did, why she named it Core Culture, what luxury actually means inside a Pilates studio, and the dream community she's building — one fifty-minute class at a time.
Hosted by Candice — founder of Ms Morning.
Follow India: @indiahindmarsh
14 May 2026
Episode 2: Thu Nguyen -- What's Really Running Your Brand
You can have the most beautiful brand in the room — but if the commercial side of your business isn't built right, none of it will matter when you walk into that retailer meeting.
Thu Nguyen spent years as a Fashion Buyer at Myer, sitting on the side of the table that most founders are desperately trying to reach. Now, as the founder of Unhinged Business, she helps fashion, beauty and consumer product brands build what actually gets them there — and keeps them there.
This episode is packed with practical insight: what kills a pitch before it starts, why awareness is almost never the real problem, what retail ready actually looks like from the inside, and the commercial blind spots that quietly hold most product brands back.
One of the most eye-opening episodes yet.
Hosted by Candice — founder of Ms Morning.Follow Thu: @unhingedbusiness
10 May 2026
Episode 1: Joey Dunleavy -- From Stewardess to Co-Founder: The Real Cost of Going All In
She's curated superyacht experiences for some of the world's most recognisable names — including a certain Leonardo DiCaprio — but Joey Dunleavy will be the first to tell you her mornings are anything but glamorous.Joey is the co-founder of The Yacht Life Australia, Sydney's leading luxury yacht charter and events agency. Before building her own business, she spent years as a stewardess on some of the world's most prestigious superyachts — crossing the Atlantic six times, working in Europe, the Caribbean and the US — before coming home to Sydney in 2018 to build something of her own alongside her co-founder and partner, Sam.In this episode, Joey gets genuinely honest about the gap between the polished exterior of a luxury brand and the reality of building it — as a business mother, as a co-founder, and as someone who had to learn to redesign her own business before it broke her.We talk about:→ What six years working on superyachts actually taught her about what people want from a luxury experience→ The Leonardo DiCaprio story (yes, really)→ How she and Sam went from meeting on the yachts to co-founding The Yacht Life — and how they navigate business and personal when you're both→ The long nights and early mornings nobody sees behind a high-touch, always-on business→ How to build trust with a brand-new client in an industry where trust is everything→ Setting boundaries with high-end clients — and knowing when to say no to a booking→ The version of the business she had to let go of before she could build the one that actually works→ What she'd say to any business mother who's in the middle of the hard part right nowIf you've ever wondered what it looks like to build something extraordinary while also trying to be present for your family, this one is for you.
18 Dec 2025
Episode 10: Kirsten Scott -- Networking That Actually Works
Kirsten Scott, co-founder of BOA, discusses how to build genuine relationships through networking, designing impactful events, and fostering community engagement, in an interview with the host.
7 Oct 2025
Episode 9: Kristy Valentine — From 4AM Grind to Exit: Building Dr Dough & What Came After
Kristy Valentine recounts her entrepreneurial journey building Dr Dough, highlighting early-day sacrifices, pivoting to gifting during the pandemic, and the emotional experience of selling the company in this interview.
9 Sept 2025
Episode 8: Rosy McEvedy — Take the Falls as Lessons, Then Build the Boom
Host Alex Lieberman interviews Rosy McEvedy, founder of IV League Drips, as she shares how meditation transformed her leadership and how she uses setbacks as lessons to build her business.
26 Aug 2025
Episode 7: Elyse Christopher — How to Make Luxury Meet Convenience (The Up Make Way)
Host Elyse Christopher shares how Up Make Way blends luxury with convenience through repeatable systems and a client-first approach in this interview.
21 Jul 2025
Episode 6: Emma Blomfield ---- Style Your Home, Grow Your Dream
Interior designer Emma Blomfield discusses transitioning from marketing to founding EB Studio, sharing design secrets and resilience strategies with host Candice, in this interview.
11 Jun 2025
Episode 5: Monique Riley — From Miss Universe Australia to Founder of Mrs Matcha
Monique Riley, founder of Mrs Matcha, discusses her transition from Miss Universe Australia to wellness entrepreneur and the lessons learned in building her matcha brand in an interview with Candice.
5 May 2025
Episode 4: Lauren Kennedy — Using AI to Disrupt Luxury Resale While Navigating New Motherhood
What happens when a new mom builds one of the most innovative tech platforms in luxury fashion?
In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Kennedy — tech co-founder of HIGH END, the AI-powered platform redefining how we buy and sell pre-loved luxury. We talk about the bold bet she made to leave a stable job, how she built trust into a market flooded with counterfeits, and what it’s really like to raise a baby while scaling a startup.
Inside this episode:
– Why the luxury resale market needed a shake-up
– How Lauren uses AI to verify authenticity and set fair value
– The honest truth about juggling founder life and new motherhood
– Tiny routines that help her stay grounded before 9AM
This one’s for the founders, the innovators, and the ones building big things quietly — and fearlessly.
8 Apr 2025
Episode 3: Sophie Hood — Turning Obsession into Innovation: How She Introduced a New Category to the Western Market
In this episode, we sit down with Sophie Hood, the powerhouse founder and CEO of Seoul Tonic, a disruptive wellness beverage brand inspired by her love for Korean culture. From navigating the early days of entrepreneurship while juggling a full-time job, to being ripped off before she even launched, Sophie’s journey is one of resilience, bold storytelling, and unapologetic confidence.
She opens up about how she turned a personal obsession into a business idea, how she broke into retail with a totally new product category, and what it was really like pitching to Gordon Ramsay and Janine Allis on national TV.
If you’re building something new, or struggling to find your voice in a crowded market—this one’s for you.
26 Mar 2025
Episode 2: Amy Castano -- How She Built Strength, Confidence & an Unstoppable Mindset
What does it take to build unshakable confidence and turn risks into rewards? In this episode, Amy Castano reveals how growing up as an only child shaped her calm energy and mental resilience. She shares her unique perspective on setbacks—seeing them as mere moments, not roadblocks—and how this mindset has fueled her journey through life’s highs and lows. Amy also unpacks the power of word-of-mouth and social media in building Acero, and how knowing the right moment to take a leap made all the difference. Plus, she takes us inside her morning routine, showing how waking up early and starting the day with intention keeps her grounded, focused, and ready to take on anything. Tune in for an inspiring deep dive into resilience, confidence, and the art of making bold moves.
14 Mar 2025
Episode 1: Alex Montrezor -- How to Feel FULLY Before Starting the Day
Ever wonder how top professionals stay unshakable in high-stakes situations? In this empowering episode, recruitment powerhouse Alex Montrezor—founder and visionary Recruitment Consultant—reveals her transformative morning ritual to conquer chaos before the day begins.
Join us as Alex shares her battle-tested routine of self-talk, affirmations, and visualization, honed through years of navigating high-pressure negotiations. Discover how a simple 5-minute emotional check-in can clarify your priorities, why phrases like “I navigate challenges with grace” rewire your mindset, and how envisioning success primes you to win—even on the most hectic days.
Alex doesn’t just preach theory: She spills stories from the trenches, including journey of her career where her routine turned a crumbling deal into a major win. Plus, she tackles skeptics head-on, offering bite-sized tips like “one ritual I would never skip” for time-strapped listeners.
Walk away with:
🔹 Actionable steps to design your OWN “fully charged” morning (no hour-long meditation required).
🔹 A sneak peek into Alex’s mantra: “Starting ‘fully’ isn’t optional—it’s your competitive edge.”
Whether you’re closing deals, leading teams, or juggling life’s daily pressures, this episode is your toolkit to own your mornings—and your outcomes.
Subscribe now and never miss an episode. Stay tuned for next week’s deep dive on building unbreakable resilience in remote work! Follow Alex ON Instagram: @alexandragreatness (https://www.instagram.com/#)
Perfect for fans of: Productivity hacks, mindset mastery, and real-world career strategy.
Who has been a guest on Founders Before 9am
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Kirsten Scott
Kristy Valentine
Rosy McEvedy
Elyse Christopher
Emma Blomfield
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